“And in my prosperity, I said, I shall never be moved.” (Psalms 30:6)
David wrote these words when all was finally well. It’s human to think that when all is going well nothing could ever trouble us again. It’s presumptuous. We think we have done something right. Our attitude is secure and relaxed. And we may even get slack or neglectful in our priorities. We all wish for prosperity, not only financially, but in every aspect of our lives. We shun trouble. We despise it. Yet, that’s what this world offers. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. This world always brings drama into our lives. And no matter the age, race, upbringing or position, we continually are assaulted by some kind of trouble differing in degrees. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV) The Good New Bible states that Scripture this way: “I have told you this so that you will have peace by being united to Me. The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!" (John 16:33)
John 16:33 gives us a couple of things that can help in our time of trouble. We can unite with Christ and have peace. We can come under His umbrella of protection by becoming one with Him, by making Him our Savior and our Lord. Any trouble that comes against us, because even though we belong to Christ and are under His umbrella of protection, trouble will seek us out and find us. But the difference is that now, the Lord is in control. We can have peace because no matter the trouble, we can go through it with peace, knowing that in the end, there is victory. It brings us peace to know that the battle is the Lord’s. “And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands.” (1Samuel 17:47 KJV)
1 Samuel 17:47 were David’s words when he confronted Goliath. Goliath was a giant. David was a youngster. Goliath had a huge sword and spear and was covered with armor. David just had five small stones and a sling. He ran toward the giant, shouting how God was going to fight and have the victory. So when we are going through a tough time, we need to believe God will fight for us. We should praise the Lord’s willingness and ableness to take care of the trouble. We do not just sit back and do nothing. But when we allow the Lord to take care of the problem, we should pray, believe and worship Him, Who will take care of the impossible. There is peace knowing that the Almighty One Who created all things, will take care of us.
Another thing Jesus said in John 16:33 is that He has defeated the world. At that particular time, Jesus had not gone to the Cross. He was talking like God Who sees the past, present and future all at one time. His victory over the world was a done thing. God sees the end from the beginning. “From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.” (Isaiah 46:10)
Jesus conquered the bondage of sin over mankind. “If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised Him from death, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) We are saved from the bondage of sin. Jesus conquered death. “For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die. So, when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: "Death is destroyed; victory is complete!" "Where, Death, is your victory? Where, Death, is your power to hurt?" Death gets its power to hurt from sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1Corinthians 15:53-57) And Jesus told Mary Magdalene: “Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me will live, even though they die;” (John 11:25) And Jesus defeated the ruler of this world. “And on that cross Christ freed Himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; He made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in His victory procession.” (Colossians 2:15) By this we should have no fear in any earth tribulation. Jesus has defeated every power on earth. We still have to go through these things because we live here on this earth, but we have the victory through Jesus Who conquered every power, principality, ruler of darkness in this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. “For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.” (Ephesians 6:12)
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